Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Various Government Departments take Initiatives to Observe 'Swachchata Hi Seva'
Kolkata, September 19, 2023
A fortnight-long cleanliness campaign was launched on last Friday  at New Delhi with the aim to mobilise the participation of people across the country through various activities. The "Swachhata Hi Seva" programme was launched by Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Shri Giriraj Singh. By building 73.62 lakh toilets -- 67.1 lakh individual household toilets and 6.52 lakh community and public toilets -- the Union Government provided dignity and health to millions of urban poor.
In West Bengal also, various initiatives have been taken by the Government departments to observe the fortnight. The departments included NSS, various units of Railways like Eastern and South Eastern Railways, Coast Guard and the like.
The Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters North East, conducted beach/coastal cleanship drives, on September 16, 2023, in the States of Odisha and West Bengal. The beach/coastal cleanup drive was conducted at Paradip, Puri and Baleshwar in Odisha and at Haldia, Frazerganj  and Kolkata in West Bengal.
Inspector General Iqbal Singh Chauhan, TM, Commander Coast Guard Region North East joined the campaign at Bakkhali Beach with troops of ICGS Frazarganj, a frontline unit of Coast Guard. The guest of honour Shri Srimanta Kumar Mali, Chairman Gangasagar Bakkhali Development Authority, along with the men & families of ICG, students and local populace, enthusiastically participated in the event. Speaking on the occasion Inspector General Iqbal Singh Chauhan, TM thanked and congratulated all the participants for volunteering for such a noble cause and contributing in the drive for a pollution free environment. He said such events imbibe a sense of commitment and instill in the new generation their role in making the world a cleaner place.
At Kolkata also, an event was organised by Coast Guard on the same day in collaboration with State bank of India, at Subhas Sarovar, Maniktala, to create awareness amongst local populace and society about the importance of clean water bodies and surroundings, for a pollution free environment. Shri Prem Anup Sinha, Chief General Manager SBI, graced the occasion as chief guest. Coast Guard personnel and families, SBI personnel, environmentalists and concerned citizens joined hands and cleaned the area around the Sarovar.
In addition the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters North East conducted various events like plantation drives, lectures in educational institutions, Special interactions with fishermen, walkathon etc. to raise awareness, amongst the public in the states of Odisha and West Bengal.
More than 2500 enthusiastic volunteers consisting of Coast Guard personnel & their families, students, personnel from government and non-government organisations and the general public actively participated in this mega global coastal cleanup activity. They collected approx 1500 Kgs of litter of marine & plastic waste and spread the message of importance of “clean coast, safe sea” and need of plastic litter free surroundings for a clean and healthier environment.
The NSS units also organised cleanliness drive campaign, pledge taking events, campus cleaning, classroom cleaning activities in Kolkata, Berhampore, Dhupguri, Ghatal, Purulia, Bankura and the like in various colleges, schools and computer-teaching private institutions.
Both the Eastern and South Eastern Railway authorities organised Swachchata Pakhwaras and administered Swachchata pledges in their various divisions on September 15 and 16, 2023 respectively.
NSS Volunteers of Brainware University, Kolkata organised campus cleaning Programme on 15.09.2023
NSS Units of Berhampur College organised college area cleaning campaign on the occasion of Swachta Hi Seva
NSS Volunteers of Sukanta Mahavidyalaya, Dhupgiri organised campus cleaning Programme on 15.09.2023
NSS Volunteers of Ghatal Rabindra Satabarshiki Mahavidyalaya organised SwachtaDrive Campaign
NSS Unit of Bangabashi Morning College organised cleanliness campaign in Sealdah Metro complex